Battery Coolant Flow Split Control for Low-Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery temperature control devices face issues with excessive cooling and temperature fluctuations in low-temperature environments, leading to reduced output and accelerated deterioration of batteries due to large temperature differences within the battery cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery temperature control device with a heating medium circuit that includes a battery heat exchanger, an outside air heat exchanger, a heating medium pump, and a flow rate regulating unit, which adjusts the flow rate ratio between paths to maintain a predetermined battery temperature by controlling the heating medium flow through both heat exchangers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heating medium flows through the outside air heat exchanger in low-temperature environments, then the battery temperature can be maintained, but excessive cooling and temperature fluctuations occur leading to reduced battery output and accelerated deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The flow rate regulating unit dynamically adjusts the flow rate of the heating medium based on battery temperature feedback. The control unit varies the flow rate to maintain optimal battery temperature while preventing excessive cooling and temperature fluctuations that would harm battery performance and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements temperature feedback control where the control unit monitors battery temperature and adjusts the heating medium flow rate accordingly. This closed-loop control prevents both overheating and excessive cooling, maintaining stable battery operation in low-temperature environments.
2Temperature
If the flow rate of heating medium is increased to prevent battery overheating, then temperature control is improved, but temperature fluctuations increase causing battery deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The flow rate regulating unit provides dynamic flow rate adjustment rather than fixed flow control. The control unit modulates the heating medium flow rate in response to temperature changes, preventing both overheating and excessive cooling while maintaining stable battery temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow rate parameter of the heating medium based on battery temperature conditions. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the system achieves effective temperature control while minimizing temperature fluctuations that would cause battery deterioration.
3Device complexity
If a simple heating medium circuit is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the system cannot effectively control battery temperature in low-temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
The heating medium circuit is segmented into multiple flow paths with independent flow rate control. The flow rate regulating unit divides the heating medium flow between different paths, enabling precise temperature control in low-temperature environments while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow rate regulating unit acts as an intermediary device between the heating medium pump and the heat exchangers. It mediates the heating medium flow distribution to achieve effective battery temperature control without requiring a completely complex circuit design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively suppresses excessive temperature drops and fluctuations, preventing output reduction and deterioration of batteries by optimizing the heating medium flow rates, even in low-temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a battery heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a battery and a heating medium
Implementation Method 2
an outside air heat exchanger that is connected in parallel to the battery heat exchanger and exchanges heat between the heating medium and outside air
Implementation Method 3
a heating medium pump that pumps and circulates the heating medium
Data Source
AI summary
A battery temperature control device includes a heating medium circuit that connects a battery heat exchanger, an outside air heat exchanger, a heating medium pump, and a flow rate regulating unit. The outside air heat exchanger is connected in parallel to the battery heat exchanger. The flow rate regulating unit adjusts a flow rate of the heating medium in a first path through which the heating medium flows via at least the outside air heat exchanger and a flow rate of the heating medium in a second path through which the heating medium flows by detouring around the outside air heat exchanger. The control unit controls the flow rate regulating unit to adjust a ratio between a flow rate of the heating medium in the first path and a flow rate of the heating medium in the second path.